Solderless coaxial connectors

ABSTRACT

Solderless prong and coaxial cable splice connectors for coaxial shielded cables, having a hollow body member provided with a prong or, alternately, with a connecting member contacting the stripped end of the cable inner conductor bent in form of a loop disposed in a transverse plane. The prong, or the connecting member, is electrically insulated from the remaining of the body member which is electrically connected to the outer tubular braided conductor of the cable having its end clamped between a dielectric washer having preferably inner threads for gripping the outer surface of the inner insulation of the coaxial cable and a shoulder portion of the hollow body member.

[451 Oct. 10,1972

United States Patent Shirey 541 SOLDERLESS COAXIAL CONNECTORSFOREIGN-PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 3/1915France......................339/205 lnventor: James W. Shirey, Lakeland,Mich.

[73] Assignee: John Schroeder, Howell, Mich. a

part interest Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn Attorney-Haukc, Giffordand Patalidis [22] Filed: July 23, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT Solderlessprongand coaxial cable splice connectors [211 Appl. No.: 57,728

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.769,773, Aug.

for coaxial shielded cables, having a hollow body 28 1968, Pat 3,573,712member provided with a prong or, alternately, with a 5 connecting membercontacting the stripped end of the cable inner conductor bent inform ofa loop disposed [52] U.S. Cl. [51] Im. ....Il0lr 13/54 i a transverse pThe p g, or the onnec ing member, is electrically insulated from theremaining 581 Field of Search ......33 9/s5 i59,305; 85/32 36;

15 H7 of the body member which is electrically connected to I v theouter tubular braided conductor of the cable hav- References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS ing its end clamped between a dielectric washerhaving preferably inner threads for gripping the outer surface of theinner insulation of the coaxial cable and a MWW u T w t .mw GLM 627 656999 11] II/ 611 PATENTEDucI 10 m2 3.697.930

SHEEI 1 are JAMES W. SHIREY FIG 3 IBM/Mb, W? @444;

ATTORN EYS PATENTEDnm 10 m2 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG.5

FIG.6

l are FIG? I ll Laura.-

INVENTOR JAMES WfSHlREY BYM,

ATTORNEYS SOLDERLESS COAXIAL CONNECTORS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION The present application is a continuationin-part ofapplication Ser. No. 769,773, filed Aug. 28, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No.3,573,712.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the broadfield of electrical connectors and more particularly to improvedconnectors for use with flexible coaxial cables of the type consistingof an inner central conductor, of solid or stranded current conductivemetal wire, covered by a cylindrical layer Of dielectric material, suchdielectric material being in turn covered by a cylindrical tubularmetallic braid which forms the outer conductor of the cable. The outertubular conductor is generally in turn covered with a cylindrical layerof insulation, made of a material having in addition good mechanical andweather resistant properties.

Such coaxial cables are used very extensively today for connectionbetween an aerial for propagation or reception Of high frequency radiowaves and the input of a radio receiver or the output of a radiotransmitter. Connectors are available for connecting coaxial cables tothe aerial terminals or to the radio apparatus terminals, or, by way ofa coaxial cable splice connector for connecting separate lengths ofcoaxial cables. Such connectors include a body portion having a hollowprong into which the inner conductor of the coaxial cable is introducedand crimped or soldered; the outer tubular braided connector, afterremoval of a portion of the outermost insulating covering, is providedwith means for either clamping such outer conductor in electricalcontact therewith or for soldering the outer braided conductor to theconnector body.

The soldered and/or crimped connections effectuate both the adequateelectrical connection and the mechanical securing of the coaxial cablein appropriate position when the connector is attached by means of athreaded ring or collar member to the externally threaded surface of anappropriate receptacle for the prong. Such an arrangement, as availablein the previous art, has many inconveniences as it requires, formounting of the connector upon the end of a coaxial cable, theavailability of a soldering iron and a certain degree of skill on thepart of the person attaching the connector upon the end of the cable.Additionally, in view of the heat required for properly soldering theinner conductor to the hollow prong and the outer tubular braidedconductor to the connector sleeve, heat damage may affect the insulatingquality of the dielectrics in the cable and in the connector, and suchsoldered connections do not generally effectuate good mechanicalconnections. Where crimping is used to effectuate electrical andmechanical connections between the conductors of the cable, such as theinner conductor and a portion of the connector such as the hollow prong,special tools are required, and the crimping operation has a tendency tostress the materials and reduce their normal tensile strength.

A solderless coaxial cable prong connector and a union connector aredisclosed in copending application Ser. NO. 769,773, now US. Pat. No.3,573,712 which eliminate the use of a soldering iron. In suchsolderless coaxial cable plug connectors, a dielectric washer formingpart of each connector structure is slipped over the inner insulation ofa properly dressed coaxial cable thus radially fanning out the outerbraided conductor of the coaxial cable behind the dielectric washer. Theinner conductor of the coaxial cable is then bent into a loop slightlylarger in diameter than the diameter of the center hole of thedielectric washer on the other side of the dielectric washer thusholding the dielectric washer securely in place, so as to permitclamping of all the elements by means of the prong body, or alternatelyof the union body threaded into the hollow connector body. However, thenatural resilien cy of the outer braided conductor may tend to push thedielectric washer off the end of the coaxial cable, thus hindering atight mechanical and electrically conductive assembly of the connector.The present invention provides a dielectric washer having a threadedbore for engagement with the outer surface of the cable inner insulationand a simplified assembly for a splice connector eliminating the unionelement therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has for its principalobject to provide a coaxial cable prong connector and a splice connectorhaving substantially all the advantages of the prior art connectors withrespect to weather proofing and clamping of the tubular braidedconductor, while providing means whereby the inner conductor is firmlyclamped and anchored in an appropriate axial position and in electricalcontact with the connector prong or connector member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coaxial cableconnector wherein the mechanical and electrical connections respectivelybetween the inner conductor of a coaxial cable and the prong body orconnecting member, and between the outer tubular braided conductor ofthe cable and the body of the connector, are effected by way of rigidmechanical clamping means, without resorting to soldering of the diverseconductors with the appropriate portions of the connector.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a solderlesscoaxial connector construction having all the structural and electricaladvantages of soldered connectors, which permits to effectuate strongmechanical and electrical connections with a coaxial cable, which onlyrequires the use of simple and easily available tools such as a pocketknife and a pair of pliers at most, which is simple to manufacture witha few parts of simple configuration, which is easily and sturdilyassembled, and which may be made in any appropriate type of materialpermitting strong mechanical connections and adequate losslesselectrical connections.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art from the detailed description hereinafter ofa few examples of embodiments thereof, when such description is read inconjunction with the attached drawings wherein like numerals refer tolike or equivalent parts and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of atypical coaxial cable, with an end thereof properly dressed previouslyto attaching thereto a coaxial cable prong connector according to anexample of the present invention, with parts of the prong connectordisposed in order of installation;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the plug connector of FIG. 1after assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view from line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

' FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the prong connectormounted upon an appropriate conventional input or output femalereceptacle;

FIG. 5 shows a partial exploded view of a coaxial cable splice connectoraccording to the present invention, showing a solderless coaxial cablesplice connector for joining the ends of two coaxial cables together,with the ends of the coaxial cables properly dressed and with parts ofthe connector disposed in order of installation;

FIG. 6 is a view after assembly of the splice connector of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coaxial cable spliceconnector of FIGS. 5 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENTS Referring now to thedrawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, a typical coaxialcable 10 comprises an inner conductor 12 made of a solid wire or,alternately, made of stranded wire of an electrically conductive metalsuch as copper or the like, surrounded by an insulation in the form of acylindrical layer 14 of dielectric material such as polyethylene orTeflon, or the like, which is in turn surrounded by a cylindricaltubular metallic braid conductor 16, forming the outer conductor of thecable. The outer tubular braided conductor 16 is generally in turnsurrounded by a tubular or sleevelike covering 18 of a weather resistantmaterial such as a rubber or a polyvinyl plastic.

Typical of such coaxial cables are RG/U 58 coaxial cable having an outerdiameter of 0.208 inch, RG/U 59 having an outer diameter of 0.255 inch,etc.

Preparatory to attaching the connector of the invention at the end ofthe coaxial cable 10, the cable is dressed by removing the outercovering 18 from approximately one-half inch from the end of the cable,as shown. The outer tubular braided conductor 16 and the innerdielectric layer 14 are cut off at about one-fourth inch from the end ofthe cable, such that, as shown, about one-fourth inch of the centerinner conductor 12 is exposed and about seven-thirty-seconds toonefourth inch of the outer tubular braided conductor 16 is exposed. Ahollow metallic sleeve member 20 and a metallic collar member 22,forming part of the prong connector of the invention, are threaded overthe cable 10, as shown. The end of the tubular braided conductor 16 issubsequently pushed back or radially fanned out as shown at 17, thusexposing a portion of the inner insulator 14.

A dielectric insulating washer 28 having inner bore threads 29 andpreferably serrations 31 on its outer surface to facilitate handling ofthe dielectric washer 28 is then threaded over the inner dielectricinsulation layer 14 on the end of the cable 10 into a firm mechanicalengagement such that the fanned out end portion 17 of the tubularbraided conductor 16 is firmly disposed between the insulator washer 28and the end of the outer covering 18 of coaxial cable 10. The exposedend of the inner conductor 12 is subsequently bent and formed in a smallradius loop 30 disposed in a transverse plane (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The prong connector according to the present invention further includesa plug member 34 made of a dielectric material and forming a hollow bodymember 36 provided with a longitudinally disposed bore 38 having anenlarged diameter portion 40. The periphery of the rearward portion ofthe hollow body member 36 is threaded as shown at 42 and the forwardportion thereof forms an enlarged diameter shoulder portion 44 having aknurled peripheral surface 46. The inner longitudinal bore portion 38 ofthe dielectric-hollow body member 36 is adapted to receive, under pressfit, the body portion 54 of a prong 56 having an enlarged shoulderrearward portion 58 adapted to engage the enlarged inner diameter boreportion 40 of the insulating hollow body member 36 and forming ananterior electrical contact and mechanical clamping surface 62.

The plug member 34 is screwed into the hollow sleeve member 20 as shownin FIG. 2, by engaging the thread 42 of the plug member 34 with acorresponding inner thread 64 on the internal bore 66 of the forward endof the hollow sleeve member 20. The hollow sleeve member 20 has areduced diameter bore 68 adapted to engage the peripheral surface of theinsulating covering 18 of the cable and defining an inner annulartransverse abutment surface 70. When the plug member 34 is tightlyscrewed into the hollow sleeve member 20, as shown in FIG. 2, the bentover looped end 30 of the inner conductor 12' is thus tightly secured bybeing clamped between the rearward end surface 62 of the prong 56 andthe forward surface of dielectric washer 28, thus affording a continuouselectric path from the inner conductor 12 to the prong 56, while, at thesame time, a strong mechanical and electrical connection is effectedbetween the hollow sleeve member 20 and the outer braided conductor 16,by way of the braided conductor 16 being securely clamped at its fannedout end portion 17 between the annular abutment surface 70 of the hollowsleeve member and the dielectric washer 28 securedly threaded on the endof the inner insulation 14'.

The collar member 22 has an internal bore 72 provided with an internalthread 74 proximate the forward end thereof, and is formed with arearwardly disposed inwardly extending shoulder portion 76 adapted toengage the rearward surface of an outwardly extending flange portion 77formed on the end of the sleeve member 20 when the connector is used tosecurely fasten the plug member with the prong 56 inserted in the usualmanner in the recess 78 of a receptacle 80 forming the terminal of theequipment, not shown, to which cable 10 is electrically connected, asshown in FIG. 4. The recess 78 is insulated by means such as, forexample, an insulating sleeve 82 from the body of the receptacle 80 andthe peripheral surface thereof is provided with a thread 84 adapted toengage the thread 74 within the collar member 22. In this manner, asolid mechanical attachment of the coaxial cable 10 is accomplished bymeans of the prong connector of the invention, while a continuouselectrical path is effected from the inner conductor 12 of the cable tothe recess 78 of the receptacle and from the outer tubular braidedconductor 16 of the cable to the body 80 of the receptacle.

In order to facilitate manipulation of the prong connector of theinvention, a portion of the peripheral surface of the collar member 22is preferably provided with a knurled surface as shown at 86 in FIG. 1,and a portion of the rearward end of the hollow sleeve member 20 is alsoprovided with a knurled surface as shown at 88 in FIG. 1. Knurledsurface 88 on the ho]- low sleeve member 20 causes an expansion of themetal where such knurled surface is formed, which in turn causes anincrease of diameter of the hollow sleeve member, as shown at 90 in FIG.2, or alternately, the hollow sleeve member may be provided with aslightly enlarged rear end portion 90 of a diameter larger than the bore92 formed by the shoulder portion 76 of the collar member 22.

As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the principles of the present invention may beadapted to a coaxial cable splice connector for connecting together theseparate ends of a pair of coaxial cables a and 10b. The ends of thecoaxial cables 10a and 10b are properly dressed, as previouslyexplained, by removing the outer insulation coverings 18a and 18bapproximately one-half inch from the ends of the cables. The outertubular braided conductors 16a and 16b and the inner dielectric layers14a and 14b are cut off at about one-fourth inch from the ends of thecables such that about one-fourth inch of the inner conductors 12a and12b is exposed and about one-fourth inch of the outer tubular braidedconductors 16a and 16b is exposed.

The end of the cable 10a, for example, is passed through a hollowmetallic sleeve 104. The sleeve 104, as best shown in FIG. 7, has alongitudinal bore 106 having an internal diameter corresponding to theouter diameter of the coaxial cable 10a and provided with an enlargeddiameter bore portion 108, such that an annular shoulder abutment 110 isformed at the junction between the two bore portions. The end of theenlarged diameter bore portion 108 is internally threaded as shown at 112.

The end of the cable 10b is passed through a hollow metallic plug 114having a longitudinal bore 116 accepting the cable 10b therethrough. Oneend of the hollow plug 114 has a reduced diameter portion 117 providedwith an external thread 118 for engagement with the internal thread 1 12of the hollow sleeve 104.

In order to improve finger grip on both the hollow sleeve 104 and thehollow plug 114, a portion of the peripheral surface of the hollowsleeve 104 is preferably provided with a knurled surface as shown at120, at FIGS. 5 and 6 and the peripheral surface of the hollow plug 114is also provided with a knurled surface as shown at 122.

The ends of the outer tubular braided conductors 16a and 16b of cables10a and 10b, respectively, are radially fanned out as shown at 17a and17b, and the dielectic washers 28a and 28b, of identical construction,and each provided with an internally threaded bore 29a and 29b and anouter surface having serrations as shown at 31a and 31b are threaded onthe exposed ends of the cable inner insulators 14a and 14b. In thismanner, the dielectric washers 28a and 28b are securely held in positionover the coaxial cable inner dielectric layers 14a and 14b,respectively, with the outer braided conductors 16a and 16b of thecables maintained in a radially fanned out configuration. The ends ofthe inner conductors 12a and 12b are bent over and formed into smallradius loops 30a and 30b, respectively, disposed in a transverse plane.

The hollow sleeve 104 is then slipped towards the end of the coaxialcable such that the fanned out end portion 17a of the outer tubularbraided conductor 16a engages the annular shoulder abutment formedbetween the enlarged bore portion 108'and the reduced portion 106 of thesleeve 104, thus providing an electrically conductive path between thetubular braided conductor 16a and the body of the hollow sleeve 104, thedielectric washer 28a being situated within the enlarged bore portion108 of the hollow sleeve 104. A cylindrical plug member 124 made of anelectrically conductive metallic slug 126 substantially centrallydisposed within a dielectric ring 128 substantially of the same diameteras the reduced diameter portion 117 and the dielectric washers 28a and28b, is then inserted into the bore 108 of the hollow sleeve 104, suchthat the face of the slug 126 engages the surface of the loop 30a formedat the end of the inner wire 12a of the cable 10a. To complete theassembly, the hollow plug 114 is tightly screwed into the end of thehollow sleeve 104. After the splice connector of the invention isassembled, as shown at FIG. 7, the fanned out end portion 17b of theouter threaded conductor 16b of the coaxial cable 10b is firmly clampedbetween the annular end face 130 of the hollow plug 114 and thecorresponding face of the dielectric washer 28b, and the fanned out endportion 17a of the tubular braided conductor 16a of the coaxial cable10a is securely clamped between the annular shoulder portion 110 of thehollow sleeve 104 and the face of the dielectric washer 28a, thusinsuring a continuous electrical path between the outer braidedconductors of the respective cables, through the body of the hollowsleeve 104 and the hollow plug 114. The small radius loop 30b on theinner conductor 12b of the cable 10b is securely clamped between thedielectric washer 28b and one surface of the metallic slug 126, whilethe second radius loop 30a is similarly clamped between the other end ofthe metallic slug 126 of the cylindrical plug member 124 and the face ofthe dielectric washer 28a, thus providing a continuous electric pathbetween the inner conductors 12a and 12b of the respective coaxialcables. The continuous electric path between the inner conductors 12aand 12b is properly insulated from the hollow sleeve 104, and theclamping of the diverse conductors by way of the elements of the spliceconnector of the invention results in a strong mechanical connectionbetween the two cables providing separate continuous electric pathsbetween the separate conductors of the cable, proper insulation of anelectric path from the other, and adequate weather protection of theconnection.

Although not shown at FIGS. 5-7, if so desired, the internal bore 116 ofthe hollow plug member 114 and the reduced diameter bore portion 106 ofthe hollow sleeve 104 may be provided with a thread, substantially alikethe thread 68 of the hollow sleeve member 20 of the prong connector ofFIGS. 1-4, for gripping the outermost layer of insulation of therespective coaxial cables.

clamping of the diverse elements in assembly and proper clamping of theseparate cable conductors to provide a strong mechanical assembly andsafe electrically conductive paths.

It is obvious that the structures described in the foregoing descriptionand in the accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only,and various different modifications and embodiments may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention asexpressed in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a connector for mounting on the end of a coaxial shielded cable ofthe type having an inner conductor surrounded by a tubular dielectricmaterial in turn surrounded by an outer tubular braided conductor inturn surrounded by a dielectric material covering, wherein saidconnector comprises:

an electrically conductive hollow sleeve member having a firstlongitudinal bore adapted to accept the coaxial cable, a secondlongitudinal bore of enlarged diameter provided with an internal threadand an annular abutment surface disposed between said first and secondbores;

a dielectric washer disposed surrounding the dielectric materialsurrounding the inner conductor, the end of the tubular conductor beingfanned out radially so as to be normally engaged between one side ofsaid dielectric washer and said annular abutment in the hollow sleevemember, the projecting end of the inner conductor being bent over on theother side of said dielectric washer;

a plug member comprising a cylindrical body and a coaxially disposedelectrically conductive elongated prong member having a rearward flatsurface and being electrically insulated from said body, said body beingprovided with a thread on the peripheral surface thereof for engagementwith the internal thread in the hollow sleeve member, the relativelength of said plug member and said hollow sleeve member being such thatwhen the plug member is threaded tight into the hollow sleeve membersaid inner conductor is clamped between said dielectric washer and therearward flat surface of said electrically conductive elongated prongmember in said plug member and said outer tubular braided conductor is,clamped between said side of said dielectric washer and the annularabutment surface of said hollow sleeve member;

a forwardly disposed enlarged diameter shoulder portion on the peripheryof the end of said hollow sleeve member engaging said plug member; and

a collar member having a rearwardly disposed inwardly extending shoulderportion for engagement with the enlarged diameter shoulder portion ofsaid hollow sleeve member, said collar member having an internal threadfor engagement with an external thread of a receptacle for said prongmember;

the improvement characterized by said dielectric washer having a boreprovided with a thread for gripping engagement with the tubulardielectric material surrounding the inner conductor of said coaxialshielded cable.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein'said dielectric washer has aperipheral surface provided with serrations.

3. A coaxial cable splice connector for joining the ends of a pair ofcoaxial cables of the type having an inner conductor surrounded by aninner dielectric material in turn surrounded by an outer tubular braidedconductor in turn surrounded by an outer dielectric material, saidsplice connector comprising:

an electrically conductive hollow sleeve member having a firstlongitudinal bore adapted to accept the first of said coaxial cables, asecond longitudinal bore of enlarged diameter provided with an internalthread and an annular abutment surface disposed between said first andsecond bores;

an electrically conductive hollow plug member having a longitudinal boreadapted to accept the second of said coaxial cables, and an end providedwith external threads for engagement with the internal threads of saidhollow sleeve member;

a first dielectric washer, disposed surrounding the inner conductorproximate the end of the first said coaxial cables, the end of the outertubular braided conductor of said coaxial cable being fanned outradially so as to be normally engaged between a side of said firstdielectric washer and the annular abutment in said hollow sleeve member,the projecting end of, the inner conductor of said first coaxial cablebeing bent over on the other side of said first dielectric washer;

a second dielectric washer disposed surrounding the inner conductorproximate the end of the second of said coaxial cables, the end of theouter tubular braided conductor of said second coaxial cable beingfanned out radially so as to be normally engaged between a side of saiddielectric washer and the end of the hollow plug member, the projectingend of the inner conductor of said second coaxial cable being bent overon the other side of said second dielectric washer; and

a cylindrical plug member disposed between the first dielectric washerand the second dielectric washer, said cylindrical plug member having anouter tubular portion of a dielectric material and an inner cylindricalportion of an electrically conductive material;

whereby when the hollow plug member is threaded tight into the hollowsleeve member with the external threads of said hollow plug memberengaged with the internal threads of said hollow sleeve member, thefirst dielectric washer, the cylindrical plug member, and the seconddielectric washer are tightly clamped inside the longitudinal bore ofenlarged diameter of the hollow sleeve member and the end of the hollowplug member, with the fanned out end of the outer tubular braidedconductor of the first coaxial cable disposed in clamped engagementbetween said annular abutment surface and said first dielectric washer,the bent over end of the inner conductor of said first coaxial cabledisposed in clamped engagement between said first dielectric washer andsaid cylindrical plug member, the bent over end of the inner conductorof said second coaxial cable disposed in clamped engagement between saidcylindrical plug member and said second dielectric washer and the fannedout end of the outer tubular braided conductor of said second coaxialcable disposed in clamped engagement between the end of said hollow plugmember and said second dielectric washer. 4. The connector of claim 3wherein at least one of said dielectric washers is disposed surroundingthe dielectric material surrounding said inner conductor.

5. The connector of claim 4 wherein at least one of said dielectricwashers is provided with internal threads for firmly gripping the innerdielectric material of the coaxial cable associated therewith.

6. The connector of claim 5 wherein said dielectric washer has aperipheral surface provided with serrations.

7. The connector of claim 3 wherein the hollow sleeve member is providedwith a knurled surface on at least a portion of the outer surfacethereof.

8. The connector of claim 7 wherein the hollow plug member is providedwith a knurled surface on at least a portion of the outer surfacethereof.

1. In a connector for mounting on the end of a coaxial shielded cable ofthe type having an inner conductor surrounded by a tubular dielectricmaterial in turn surrounded by an outer tubular braided conductor inturn surrounded by a dielectric material covering, wherein saidconnector comprises: an electrically conductive hollow sleeve memberhaving a first longitudinal bore adapted to accept the coaxial cable, asecond longitudinal bore of enlarged diameter provided with an internalthread and an annular abutment surface disposed between said first andsecond bores; a dielectric washer disposed surrounding the dielectricmaterial surrounding the inner conductor, the end of the tubularconductor being fanned out radially so as to be normally engaged betweenone side of said dielectric washer and said annular abutment in thehollow sleeve member, the projecting end of the inner conductor beingbent over on the other side of said dielectric washer; a plug membercomprising a cylindrical body and a coaxially disposed electricallyconductive elongated prong member having a rearward flat surface andbeing electrically insulated from said body, said body being providedwith a thread on the peripheral surface thereof for engagement with theinternal thread in the hollow sleeve member, the relative length of saidplug member and said hollow sleeve member being such that when the plugmember is threaded tight into the hollow sleeve member said innerconductor is clamped between said dielectric washer and the rearwardflat surface of said electrically conductive elongated prong member insaid plug member and said outer tubular braided conductor is clampedbetween said side of said dielectric washer and the annular abutmentsurface of said hollow sleeve member; a forwardly disposed enlargeddiameter shoulder portion on the periphery of tHe end of said hollowsleeve member engaging said plug member; and a collar member having arearwardly disposed inwardly extending shoulder portion for engagementwith the enlarged diameter shoulder portion of said hollow sleevemember, said collar member having an internal thread for engagement withan external thread of a receptacle for said prong member; theimprovement characterized by said dielectric washer having a boreprovided with a thread for gripping engagement with the tubulardielectric material surrounding the inner conductor of said coaxialshielded cable.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said dielectricwasher has a peripheral surface provided with serrations.
 3. A coaxialcable splice connector for joining the ends of a pair of coaxial cablesof the type having an inner conductor surrounded by an inner dielectricmaterial in turn surrounded by an outer tubular braided conductor inturn surrounded by an outer dielectric material, said splice connectorcomprising: an electrically conductive hollow sleeve member having afirst longitudinal bore adapted to accept the first of said coaxialcables, a second longitudinal bore of enlarged diameter provided with aninternal thread and an annular abutment surface disposed between saidfirst and second bores; an electrically conductive hollow plug memberhaving a longitudinal bore adapted to accept the second of said coaxialcables, and an end provided with external threads for engagement withthe internal threads of said hollow sleeve member; a first dielectricwasher, disposed surrounding the inner conductor proximate the end ofthe first said coaxial cables, the end of the outer tubular braidedconductor of said coaxial cable being fanned out radially so as to benormally engaged between a side of said first dielectric washer and theannular abutment in said hollow sleeve member, the projecting end of theinner conductor of said first coaxial cable being bent over on the otherside of said first dielectric washer; a second dielectric washerdisposed surrounding the inner conductor proximate the end of the secondof said coaxial cables, the end of the outer tubular braided conductorof said second coaxial cable being fanned out radially so as to benormally engaged between a side of said dielectric washer and the end ofthe hollow plug member, the projecting end of the inner conductor ofsaid second coaxial cable being bent over on the other side of saidsecond dielectric washer; and a cylindrical plug member disposed betweenthe first dielectric washer and the second dielectric washer, saidcylindrical plug member having an outer tubular portion of a dielectricmaterial and an inner cylindrical portion of an electrically conductivematerial; whereby when the hollow plug member is threaded tight into thehollow sleeve member with the external threads of said hollow plugmember engaged with the internal threads of said hollow sleeve member,the first dielectric washer, the cylindrical plug member, and the seconddielectric washer are tightly clamped inside the longitudinal bore ofenlarged diameter of the hollow sleeve member and the end of the hollowplug member, with the fanned out end of the outer tubular braidedconductor of the first coaxial cable disposed in clamped engagementbetween said annular abutment surface and said first dielectric washer,the bent over end of the inner conductor of said first coaxial cabledisposed in clamped engagement between said first dielectric washer andsaid cylindrical plug member, the bent over end of the inner conductorof said second coaxial cable disposed in clamped engagement between saidcylindrical plug member and said second dielectric washer and the fannedout end of the outer tubular braided conductor of said second coaxialcable disposed in clamped engagement between the end of said hollow plugmember and said second dielectric washer.
 4. The connector of claim 3wherein at least one of said dielectric washers is dIsposed surroundingthe dielectric material surrounding said inner conductor.
 5. Theconnector of claim 4 wherein at least one of said dielectric washers isprovided with internal threads for firmly gripping the inner dielectricmaterial of the coaxial cable associated therewith.
 6. The connector ofclaim 5 wherein said dielectric washer has a peripheral surface providedwith serrations.
 7. The connector of claim 3 wherein the hollow sleevemember is provided with a knurled surface on at least a portion of theouter surface thereof.
 8. The connector of claim 7 wherein the hollowplug member is provided with a knurled surface on at least a portion ofthe outer surface thereof.